Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Benjy's (http://www.benjys.com/flash.html): Both the Village and Washington Ave. location are excellent first date places. However, I am more drawn to the Village location for their happy hour specials and intimate lounge area upstaris. They have apple and chocolate martinis, as well as appetizers 1/2 off from 4-7PM. The village location has a neighborhood bar feel upstairs, and a more upscale atmosphere in the main dining room down below.

Hotel ZaZa(http://www.hotelzazahouston.com/):The Monarch restaurant / urban bistro is a perfect place to savor a specialty cocktail with a new love interest. Monarch's diverse menus and extensive wine selection pair gourmet food with an extravagant atmosphere. The Monarch Terrace showcases the restaurant's delightful views of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Mecom Fountains. Since drink prices are a little steep, you might want to just meet for a drink directly after work, and extend the date to appetizers if things seem to be going in the right direction.

Gingerman (http://houston.gingermanpub.com/): Serving Rice Village since 1995, it is a beer pub that is home to students, professionals, and families. It is a casual place to meet a date after work. I would not recommend the Gingerman for food. They do have some Texas style pretzels that are served with cinnamon or spicy mustard and are quite scrumptious. If the date needs to upgrade to a new location, you can head on over to Mi Luna on University Boulevard or Prego.

Prego(http://prego-houston.com/): It is an Italian restaurant that has a renowned chef. Prego's menu is full of complex and rich flavors that utilize the indigenous ingredients of Italy. It is on a side street in the Rice Village, so you won't have some of the riff-raff seen at the Gingerman. On Mondays, wine bottles are 1/2 off. With its mix of tables and booths, it’s casual and welcoming, the perfect place for a first date. We recommend that you make reservations.

Soma Sushi (http://somasushi.com/): With a little less snooty atmosphere than Uptown Sushi and a much easier time to get a table or bar stool, Soma Sushi makes a perfect second date spot for dinner and a great first date for drinks. The Love Kudos went there for a group dinner in the summer. The patio area is heated in the winter and has super comfy benches for seating. We highly recommend Soma Sushi's crispy duck rolls and the Soma roll. Happy hour is Monday - Friday 4-7PM and you don't want to miss it. The ginger-lemon martini is divine and is only $6 during happy hour.

Click here to return to "The Love Blog"If you decide to utilize one of our first date suggestions, please let the Love Kudos know. We would be happy to post your first date story either anonymously or with your name in BOLD; your choice.

Next Blog: Part II - First Date Places in New York and Washington D.C.